He father was trumpeter Joe Barone, who taught him to play from an early age.
He began working with Shelly Manne in 1969, remaining with him until 1973; during this time he also began doing more work as a session musician for film and television soundtracks (including for Dave Grusin, Lalo Schifrin, and Tom Scott).
Barone continued his musical studies in the 1980s with Dick Grove, and in 1991, graduated from Portland State University with a Master of Arts degree in economics.
In 1995 he moved to Freiburg im Bresgau, in Germany, where he played with Jiggs Whigham, Waldi Heidepriem [de], Christof Lauer, Tony Lakatos and Albert Mangelsdorff.
He taught at the Hochschule für Kunst, Design und Populäre Musik Freiburg [de].